"Yet, all this was just life going on, a life that seemed a bit too full, maybe too noisy, maybe too demanding, but… life, nonetheless, running, flying, or, as I said, “flocking in”, with its varied colours and feathers and tempos."
(painting by Rafal Olbinski)
A sudden hush, a sudden stillness…
It was turning out to be one of those mornings when everything and everyone seem to require your attention at the same time – like flocks of varied subjects and varied people plunging and pulling at you from all sides, until you feel they are going to rip you apart, as you can’t possibly stretch any further. And I was reaching that screaming point, you know, that state when you can actually hear the first little cracks from your seams, which will be closely followed by the actual snap. I wanted to say “stop, please stop, there’s only one of me, and if that doesn’t seem to be enough while I’m still whole, it sure won’t get any better if I’m shredded into small fragments!”. Yet, all this was just life going on, a life that seemed a bit too full, maybe too noisy, maybe too demanding, but… life, nonetheless, running, flying, or, as I said, “flocking in”, with its varied colours and feathers and tempos. But then, a friend called with the unutterably horrible news that another friend’s little daughter had been kicked on her head by her father’s horse, while she was happily grooming her own pony, and had not survived the wounds. I felt… there are no words to express what I felt. But there were no more and there will be no more thoughts of life being a bit too much, a bit too noisy, “flocking in” a bit too greedily and unrelentingly … because, this morning, when I was allowing myself to selfishly, ungratefully think of all that… there was a sudden hush, a sudden stillness – and life folded its wings.
How fatal, you have written about this situation in an eloquent manner. Yes times we do seem to let it slip our minds that there are things of greater importance than life's little aggravations.
One may never know just what can bring about having a little more understanding and little bit more patience.
However, once we are enlightened we become that much of a better person.
Sincerely,
Author, Gwendolyn A. Thomas Gath
From the Heart of an Artist Quiet Storm
Reviewed by Joseph* OneLight*®
12/19/2006
Times like this are like a lightning bolt that shocks our spirit back into a more awakened and enlightened perception of our lives.
I admire you for writing this piece which, simultaneously, bares and bears your heart.
TRagic write that does show how cruel life can be but we must look at the other side of the scale and remember the beauty that is also contained in this world we call home. As far as pleasure it is not selfish to find or enjoy pleasure at any time that it is offered or available Andrea, that is also why it is there. Seasons best to you
Sometimes it takes a tragedy to knock sense into our heads. This is a most poignant telling of the build-up to -- and of that moment when reality comes bursting through. It has the ring of truth and if so I am truly sorry for the loss to you and your friends. The surreal beauty of the picture complements the story as well. Love and {{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}},
Leland
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